First Time Registration

Register yourself and your dependent spouse and children with Social Security Board by providing legal, original and valid documents as proof of identity and immigration status.

A parent or legal guardian must apply for the registration of his/her dependent child who is under age fourteen (14) and must provide their valid photo ID. The legal guardian of a depended child must provide a Court Order showing legal guardianship.

Any document not written in the English or Spanish language must be accompanied by a certified English translation of that document. The University of Belize Language Center is a place of reference for document translation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs certifies the document translation.

Born Belizean

Primary Documents:

• Birth Certificate OR Adoption Certificate, AND
• A Valid Photo ID

Foreign Born Person with Permanent Residency Status:

Naturalized Belizean

Primary Documents:

• Birth Certificate OR Adoption Certificate. AND
• Belize Nationality Certificate with photo; OR
• Belize Nationality Certificate without photo and a valid photo ID; OR
• Belize Passport.

Note: A photo ID of the applicant is required if the Belize Nationality Certificate being presented does not bear his/her own photograph.

Permanent Resident of Belize

Primary Documents:

• Birth Certificate OR Adoption Certificate. AND
• Belize Permanent Residence Card; OR
• Passport from country of origin or naturalized country with Belize Permanent Residence stamp affixed on one of the passport pages.

Note: An expired passport with Belize Permanent Residence stamp affixed is also acceptable.

CARICOM National with (CSME) Qualifying Certificate & Indefinite Entry of Stay Stamp

Primary Documents:

• Birth Certificate OR Adoption Certificate AND
• CARICOM Single Market & Economy Free Movement of Skills (CSME) Qualifying Certificate AND
• Passport from country of origin or naturalized country with Indefinite Entry of Stay “Right to Work” Stamp affixed on one of the passport pages.

Note: Qualifying Certificate is a Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act.

Foreign Born Person with Temporary Residency Status:

Temporary Resident of Belize

Primary Documents:

• Valid passport from country of origin or naturalized country. AND

Valid permits, cards or stamps such as:

• Condition Stamp; OR
• Dependent Permit; OR
• Definite Entry of Stay “Right to Work” Stamp affixed on one of the passport pages; OR
• Refugee Card; OR
• Student Permit; OR
• Special Permit with Condition Stamp; OR
• Temporary Employment Permit; OR
• Temporary Residence Permit.

Note: A foreign national must submit his/her original birth certificate if he/she becomes a Permanent Resident or citizen of Belize.

Acceptable Photo ID’s:

• Belize Passport
• Passport from naturalized country or country of origin
• Belize Voter’s Identification Card (with color photo)
• Drivers’ License
• National Identity/Identification Card (foreign national)
• Social Security Card
• Primary, Secondary or Tertiary School Student ID issued in Belize (applicable to dependent children under eighteen years)

If unable to provide any of the valid Photo IDs listed above, then:

• A recent (2X2 inch) color photo of applicant with an active Justice of the Peace (JP) Declaration that reads on the reverse side of the photo: “I certify that this is the true likeness of __________ and I have personally known him/ her for ________ years.”
• Applicant’s photo must bear the JP’s name, signature and stamp.

Note: Registered persons who have a photo captured in the Social Security Board’s registration database do not need to provide the required photo ID for card renewal or replacements purposes.

View 2023 Gazette List of Justice of the Peace Officers

Acceptable Documents for Name Change:

• Adoption Certificate
• Corrected Birth Certificate
• Divorce Absolute
• Deed Poll with Birth Certificate, Adoption Certificate or Marriage Certificate Etc.

Acceptable Documents for Proof of Marital Status:

• Married – Marriage Certificate
• Divorced – Divorce Absolute
• Separated – Court Document showing approval of legal separation

Note: A change of name must be authenticated by providing evidence showing that a bona fide/legal change has been made for all purposes.

Card Fees

1. 1. Defective cards, provided a card reprint request is made within one month from the date of issue; or
   2. Any card identified as printed with an error due to administrative oversight.